Energy firms 'forcibly' installing more prepayment meters

Energy firms 'forcibly' installing more prepayment meters

Gas and electricity suppliers are forcing too many customers to use prepaid meters, the regulator has said.

In a report, Ofgem said the number of gas meter devices installed using a court warrant rose by 6.9% last year.

The regulator said meters should be "an absolute last resort" for recovering debt, and suppliers should be putting households onto repayment plans first.

If the number of forced meter installations continue to rise, Ofgem said it would "take tough action".

The regulator noted that the number of homes being completely disconnected due to debt fell to just 17 in 2017.

But Ofgem's Rob Salter-Church said energy companies "could do much more".

"Protecting vulnerable customers is a non-negotiable for suppliers," he added.

The number of gas and electricity prepayment meters forcibly installed by warrant rose to 84,000, from 81,000 in 2016.

Read the full story at The BBC.

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